A podcast psychologist with autism and a former professional swimmer, both dealing with major career meltdowns, unexpectedly reunite in Italy for their grandparents’ wedding. As they try to clean up the messes in their lives and figure out what’s next, they end up rediscovering not only themselves, but maybe each other, too.
The story is light and easy to follow, with just enough depth to keep things interesting. The plot moves at a nice pace, and the setting is a total Italian dream. A cute, fun summer read that left me seriously jonesing for a trip back to Italy!

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the free ARC ebook!

The Summer You Were Mine by Jill Francis was a really sweet and touching romance that was set in Italy. I really liked Ellie (who is going through some hard times) and seeing her reconnect with Cristiano felt real and heartfelt. The slow-building love story felt natural, and the book had a lot of moments about healing, forgiveness, and finding yourself. If you want a warm, easy-to-read story with nice characters and a lovely setting, this book is a great pick. It was a great beach read for me this year.

Thank you NetGalley, St Martins Press and Jill Francis for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5⭐️ A second chance romance in Italy - this had all the potential but didn’t quite get there for me. I think it was good and recommend but I wasn’t wowed as much as I hoped.

I listened to most of the book, having received both the audio and ebook from NetGalley. The narrators did a great job with all the Italian woven into the story. Reading it just from the ebook I would have skimmed over a lot of that.

I loved the storyline of Ellie and Cris returning to Italy where they used to be friends each summer. Their families have a long history of friendship and support but years ago they had a misunderstanding that led to them not speaking for years. The tight knit Italian family and side characters were entertaining and a fun addition.

The romance and conflict itself left a little to be desired for me. Ellie was entertaining but felt like she made things more complicated than they needed to be. Cris was a little more open about things but still made bonehead decisions. Overall, I just wanted a bit for from this relationship to feel the tension and pull for them to be together.

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin/St. Martin's Publishing for the ARC of "The Summer You Were Mine" in exchange for an honest review.

I suppose beachy reads don't get any beachier than this. What better place to rekindle doused out romantic fires than the Italian Riviera. Nothing like warm sun, sparkling beaches and endless amounts of Italian food and wine to make estranged lovers come to their senses. and catch up on what they've foolishly been missing all these many years.

And so it is with retired champion competitive swimmer Cris Conte and Ellie Beltrami., a talk show hostess with a psychology doctorate she makes use of to conduct hot seat interviews with athletes. Still hurting from their young love that went sour, they now both find themselves publicly disgraced - Ellie, by an embarrassing open mike moment and Cris by doping accusations. They also find themselves invited to the wedding of Ellie's grandmother to Cris's grandfather........which means, of course, returning to the beautiful little Italian town that's the ancestral home of both their extended families.

Hmmm......what could possibly happen next? (Any dedicated fan of second chance romances needn't answer.....)

Ellie and Cris embark on a mutually beneficial plan to refurbish and repair their damaged reputations, but their own wary unease around each other serve to thwart them..........with Ellie's lifelong social awkwardness explained by her recent autism diagnosis. But leave it to that radiant Italian scenery, sheer proximity, flowing wine and a host of loving relatives cheering them on from the sidelines. Are those a few sparks we see flying?

Found one like and dislike here. The like - plenty of sharp comedy relief on display from the assembled families. The big dislike - Ellie and Cris's ever-so-slow-to-get=going interactions are overwritten and overthought.....too many scenes where their dialogue goes 'round and 'round in circular babble that becomes maddening and repetitive... Verbally, these two crazy kids can't get out of their own way.

But all readers who love gorgeous settings destination weddings, priceless wisecracks and romantic payoffs way high on the swoon meter............let's just say you won't feel disappointed. A sweet Italian vacation you can take without ever leaving your home.

First off, I would like to thank St. Martin's Press|St. Martin's Griffin and author Jill Francis for allowing me to read this novel via Netgalley. All opinions following are my own.

This novel follows two main characters: Ellie and Cris. They were childhood best friends, living in Italy whose families had been best friends for generations before both families moved to the United States. They still reunited with their extended families every summer in Italy, where their extended families still resided.

At one point in very early adulthood, Cris and Ellie tried to be more than just best friends. When that fantastically failed, they both decided to go their separate ways.

Even in their separate lives, though, they were always on each other's periphery: Ellie became a famous podcaster who used her psychology degree to interview disgraced athletes and make them see their wrongdoings, and Cris became a famous Olympic swimmer.

Since their spouses' deaths, Ellie's grandmother and Cris' grandfather had been courting for a decade after a lifetime of friendship. On a whim, they decide to marry.

When Ellie and Cris both have professional failings right before their grandparents are to be married in Italy, the two former friends decide that maybe they can help each other.

Can they remain just friends? Will this backfire? Were they always meant to be more?

This story was cute. At times, it could be confusing as there was quite a bit of Italian dialogue. Sometimes, it was also slow and dragging. Finally, there was a small subplot where Ellie found out a year before the story's inception that she was autistic. Ultimately, though, I didn't think this played prominently into the storyline. While I appreciate inclusion, I think it either needed to be more prominently featured or left out. Otherwise, it could come off as inclusion simply for the sake of inclusion, not to develop the character and their overall story. All in all, though, I still gave this story ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. It made me smile and want to be in love during an Italian summer. This book drops tomorrow, July 1. Readers who enjoy cute summer romances should check it out!

3.5 stars! This was such a sweet, summery read. The Summer You Were Mine follows Ellie and Cris, whose families are both from Chiavari, the same small city on the Italian Riviera. Their childhood friendship is another in a long line of friendships between the families, and soon becomes even more than that…until a misunderstanding tears them apart. Years later, Ellie and Cris are back in Chiavari, where they slowly begin to rediscover their old friendship—and maybe even the romance that just might deserve a second chance.

The setting was a total highlight of this book for me! Readers will want to book their own trip to the Italian Riviera ASAP after reading. Jill Francis does a great job of creating a sense of place, and everything was so beautifully and vividly described. I also loved reading about Ellie’s and Cris’s families, and enjoyed that they played a big role in the story. And, I really liked the neurodivergent rep (Ellie has recently discovered that she is autistic) as well.

I’m not a huge fan of the miscommunication trope, so I did sometimes struggle with that aspect of the book. However, I’d still recommend this one for a fun, immersive summer read! Plus, if you love childhood friends-to-lovers or second-chance romances, you’ll definitely want to add it to your TBR. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

I wish I could have cared more for this book but I zoned out so many times that I can’t even begin to truly describe what I read. 🙂‍↕️

The setting of the story and setup honestly started off well. New York City. Italy? Yes, instant yes for an easy summer romance read. However, there was so much missing information and lack of depth to any of the characters that it was just reading material that didn’t have an impact for me. There was also way too much going on. Divorce parents. Grandma getting married. Podcast gone wrong. Chaos of a family vacation. Just too much.

The romance between Ellie and Cris falls so flat that I’m still here wondering if they’re even meant to be together. They have spoken in a decade and I can’t even tell you why because I zoned out because they weren’t interesting. The miscommunication trope will never be a winner in my eyes so it just didn’t do anything for me. There’s like a spicy scene that I give 1 🌶️ out of 5.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Jill Francis for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

this just didn't work for me. I love the cover and love the idea of a second chance romance set in Italy but oh my god I do not care about Ellie or Cris. Both are over dramatic and too caught up in the past (a past that they didn't even really have, for how they were acting you would have thought they had dated for years with a messy breakup, but no they shared one kiss 10 years ago). I also found the constant lack of communication to be frustrating. On top of that it felt like plot points that were going to be important were just dropped (Ellie's parent's divorce for example). I found the lack of English translation for the Italian to just be frustrating. I speak Spanish and could decipher a lot of it, but not all of it, so it felt like I was missing out on dialogue. This was just not the book for me.

★★★ A Breezy Italian Romance with Genuine Characters, but Chemistry Falls Slightly Flat

Jill Francis crafts a picturesque second-chance romance set on the Italian Riviera, reuniting childhood friends Ellie and Cris amid family weddings, career upheaval, and personal reinvention. The lush setting and emotional undercurrents help this novel stand out—but it's not without its flaws.

This was a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers but first 1/3 of the book was painfully slow.

✅ Final Take — 3 Stars
The Summer You Were Mine is a lovely summer read that delivers on atmosphere, emotional resonance, and heartfelt character arcs. Jill Francis excels at evoking a dreamy seaside backdrop and portraying real-life struggles. However, for those seeking fiery chemistry or a crisp, plot-driven romance, the pacing and emotional beats may feel a bit subdued or uneven.

📌 Who It’s For
Ideal for fans of Emily Henry or Christina Lauren who appreciate character-led, slow-burn romances and immersive settings especially readers drawn to introspection and personal growth over heat and drama.

Overall: ★★★☆☆
A pleasant, emotionally grounded romance with a dreamy Italian setting though the central relationship never quite ignites into something unforgettable.

Thank you to the author and to Net Galley for this eARC.

Thanks to St. Martins Griffin for the print ARC and NetGalley for the e-galley.

I was drawn to this book since, like the author and the characters, I am married to an Italian and the scenes with the families around the beach club are spot on to summer life in Italy. The sense of uniqueness and the specialness of the setting and its meaning to the characters in regard to how it informs their connection is evocative. The story itself was fine, completely predictable, but I appreciated the window into the mind of a neurodivergent FMC. It is more sweet than spicy for my preference, but the intimate scene was rendered well and makes this a solid choice for readers who are looking for less graphic depictions of on-page sex. Overall, a fine debut.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of ‘The Summer You Were Mine’ by Jill Francis. This was the first book that I’ve read by this author but the title was intriguing and I liked the cover of the book. I am always up for trying new authors and finding new reads, so I was excited when I was approved for this ARC.

Ellie and Cris have known each other since they were kids. Their grandparents were friends and their fathers played on the same water polo team. After many years of not being in each other’s lives anymore, both Ellie and Cris are heading back to Italy for the wedding of her grandma to his grandfather. Although this should be a super exciting and happy occasion, both Ellie and Cris are struggling with their own personal struggles. Can they rebuild their trust in each other to help each other through their struggles, or will their past continue to build a wall between them?

I gave this book 4 stars out of 5, but did really enjoy the story. Overall, the book had a beautiful storyline and I loved seeing relationships change or evolve.

I liked the main female character, Ellie, who runs a podcast show where she interviews athletes. Ellie is a strong woman who has her routines and has some struggles with romance. What I liked about Ellie is that she was recently diagnosed with autism as an adult. This hit closer to home for me because my son was recently diagnosed (although at age 5). I enjoyed how she had a great relationship with her brother, even though they don’t see each other every day. I also like the main male character of Cris, who sounds like a dreamboat. I like how there was good storyline and some romance, but it wasn’t overly smutty. I absolutely love Ellie’s grandmother in the book, and would be someone I would want to meet.

2.5 stars

Ellie and Cris have known each other all of their lives because their families both come from Genoa and they spent summers together in Italy as kids. Both have just arrived in Genoa for a family wedding - Ellie's grandmother is marrying Cris's grandfather in a second marriage. The two haven't spoken to each other in more than 10 years following an incident/miscommunication as teenagers when they almost became more than friends.

As they arrive in Italy, Ellie, a non-practicing psychologhist with a recent autism diagnosis, is reeling from an open mic incident on her sports podcast that puts her future in jeopardy and Cris, a recently retired elite swimmer, is confronting rumous of doping that put his legacy on the line. The two come up with a plan for him to appear on her podcast to clear his name but that will require the two of them to spend time together in the lead-up to the wedding and they will need to also face what drove them apart years earlier.

This sweet second chance romance set in Genoa, Italy has a gorgeous cover, is set in a stunning location, and has scrumptious food descriptions but, unfortunately, the romance just didn't capture my attention. It's still an easy beach read for anyone looking for a destination romance particularly if they're looking for one that's fairly light on spice.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing a digital ARC of this book for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc and alc.

This book was just ok in my opinion. If anything, I think the book could've used a tad bit more editing before it was released. (And yes I do realize it was an arc). I still might be interested in reading more by Jill Francis in the future though,

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

I was really excited for this book as it takes place off the coast of Italy and it's a second chance romance, but unfortunately it fell flat for me and I DNF'd at 39%. I didn't feel connected to the characters, and the plot wasn't attracting me either. I don't believe I was the right target audience for this book and that's okay!

I could definitely see how someone would enjoy this. I loved the setting and the tropes that took place in the book. I also enjoyed the family dynamic; however, I didn't care enough to see how the book ended. Overall, this book wasn't meant for me, but I can definitely see others enjoying it.

This is a romance novel with "second chance lovers" and "miscommunication" tropes. I ultimately did not enjoy this, but it would be a light fun beach read for summer.

A great summer read, that is both light and breezy but also populated with characters that you will be rooting for and that you will remember long after you have closed the book.

This was a fun summer read. It had all the key aspects of a good romance novel. It made me want to go back to Italy and learn more of the language, eat the food, and enjoy the small towns. The characters were well developed and likable.

The only downside, the chapters are loooooong.

Ellie Beltrami and Cristiano Conte have known each other their entire lives. Both families hail from Chiavari, a small city on the Italian Riviera. Their grandparents are friends. Their parents are friends. They were friends. And for one brief moment fourteen summers ago, they were almost more than that. After years apart, Ellie and Cris are headed back to Chiavari as generations of Beltramis and Contes gather for the unlikely second marriage between her grandmother and his grandfather. But while everyone’s celebrating, Ellie is reeling from the very public implosion of her career as the host of a sports talk show, plus overthinking her past and perceived flaws in light of the recent discovery that she is neurodivergent. Cris, a newly retired elite swimmer, also arrives adrift after being accused of using a banned substance. Reunited in a place where summer dreams come true, Cris and Ellie make a deal: an exclusive interview with Cris to fix her career, and an appearance on Ellie’s show to clear his name. Soon they’re picking up where their teen romance left off—but if this second chance can last, they’ll need to finally confront what drove them apart all those summers ago.

Thoughts
This is a great summer read. It’s a fun setting surrounded by family and friends that feel like family. This story touches on some heavier subjects but is overall pretty light and fluffy. I’m not a huge fan of 3rd act break ups, especially in a second chance story, so I could have done without that conflict but I think it helped lead to some clarity the characters needed.

3.5⭐️ rounded up to 4. This was a cute second chance romance. I was a bit bored at times, so that’s the main reason for the 3.5 rating. Italy for the backdrop of this novel was great. I’m ready to book a flight tomorrow.

Ellie and Cris have known each other their entire lives. They are back in Italy for the wedding of her grandmother and his grandfather. Cris and Ellie both have a bit of a professional scandal occurring and decide to join forces to help save both their public images. The more time they spend together, the more the spark from all those years ago ignites again.

This book was good and well written. I do recommend it if you’re looking for a cute summer read. I wasn’t fully invested with either character, but overall the story kept me engaged. Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the arc for my review.

This book isn’t for me. It has an angsty, new-adult feel, whereas I prefer light-hearted rom-coms. I’m sure others will enjoy it.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.